***Official Political Discussion Thread***

[debso]

How much more do we have to deal with before something sticks.

 

[InTheHallway]

How much more do we have to deal with before something sticks.

LOL ... This is quite possibly my favorite take from the libby leftists ... OMG there's so much scandal how much more do we need!!!!

Not realizing that you are being fed a mountain of ******** from whiney politicians and media personnel, so baffled by the results of an election that reality is being refused to be accepted ...

The Don is as corrupt as any other politician you have ever voted for ... He's just more adept pissing off others and therefore more is being done to sabotage his administration ...

Imagine when he finishes his term ... How long will the investigations go on? Seriously, when does it end? When does the American public finally say enough is enough, stop wasting my tax dollars on a ******** probe that hasn't found anything actionable in 1.5 years ...

 

[Mr.Guy]

LOL ... This is quite possibly my favorite take from the libby leftists ... OMG there's so much scandal how much more do we need!!!!

Not realizing that you are being fed a mountain of bull**** from whiney politicians and media personnel, so baffled by the results of an election that reality is being refused to be accepted ...

The Don is as corrupt as any other politician you have ever voted for ... He's just more adept pissing off others and therefore more is being done to sabotage his administration ...

Imagine when he finishes his term ... How long will the investigations go on? Seriously, when does it end? When does the American public finally say enough is enough, stop wasting my tax dollars on a bull**** probe that hasn't found anything actionable in 1.5 years ...

Has it even been a year? Do you know how long White collar investigations typically take?

 

[noskey]

LOL ... This is quite possibly my favorite take from the libby leftists ... OMG there's so much scandal how much more do we need!!!!

Not realizing that you are being fed a mountain of bull**** from whiney politicians and media personnel, so baffled by the results of an election that reality is being refused to be accepted ...

The Don is as corrupt as any other politician you have ever voted for ... He's just more adept pissing off others and therefore more is being done to sabotage his administration ...

Imagine when he finishes his term ... How long will the investigations go on? Seriously, when does it end? When does the American public finally say enough is enough, stop wasting my tax dollars on a bull**** probe that hasn't found anything actionable in 1.5 years ...

This is the type of young energy the #COALGANG needs. Young white Republican trash bin heart dog whistlin energy to drive the DEMONS out of the hearts of LIBS. With this #SPINZONE hot take we will WIN over the hateful libby infestation this country has been putting up with for far too long. Papa Vlad needs to get InTheHallway on the coalroll with da musket and Jostens.

#AmenCOALGANG2020MACAMACAMACA

 

[InTheHallway]

Has it even been a year? Do you know how long White collar investigations typically take?

I actually served on a jury for a white collar crime that took a long, long time ... Nearly all white collar crime is financial in nature so not quite applicable ...

This investigation is not white collar finance, but criminal in nature and is simply devoid of purpose ...

These memos are absolutely, 100% lacking in anything related to collusion and defensible in a court of law ...

 

[leavemeglazzies]

The Don is as corrupt as any other politician you have ever voted for ...

Yeah, he's definitely AS corrupt as any other politician... Except that he also stacks a substantial amount of corruption on top of that "as".

I can definitely see your strat: "Trump lies, but what politician doesn't?" Which is true, except that this guy takes lying to a whole new level and makes other politicians look like lying d-leaguers.

 

[fargin]

Say what you will about Ted Cruz, because he's a little *****.

 

[Based Jesus]

A nice gesture

 

[Cashflow]

Will they then retroactively release people from jail with marijuana charges and/or expunge old convictions?

 

[elpablo21]

 

[plansb]

Will they then retroactively release people from jail with marijuana charges and/or expunge old convictions?

I know they did in Oregon, not sure about the other states. I think once it is legal at a federal they will release people and clear records as appropriate.

 

[deleted]

LOL ... This is quite possibly my favorite take from the libby leftists ... OMG there's so much scandal how much more do we need!!!!

Not realizing that you are being fed a mountain of bull**** from whiney politicians and media personnel, so baffled by the results of an election that reality is being refused to be accepted ...

The Don is as corrupt as any other politician you have ever voted for ... He's just more adept pissing off others and therefore more is being done to sabotage his administration ...

Imagine when he finishes his term ... How long will the investigations go on? Seriously, when does it end? When does the American public finally say enough is enough, stop wasting my tax dollars on a bull**** probe that hasn't found anything actionable in 1.5 years ...

Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them

 

[biggie62]

Cohen dropped suits against buzzfeed and fusion GPS. He might actually start snitching soon. Hey I’d rather see my family than be put under the bus by trumpito anyway.

 

[the natural mystic]

I am here for the discovery phase of this. Dems might not be so soft after all.

 

[elpablo21]

Figured Broidy was only a part of the Cohen's storyline this season

 

[Belgium]

I actually served on a jury for a white collar crime that took a long, long time ... Nearly all white collar crime is financial in nature so not quite applicable ...

This investigation is not white collar finance, but criminal in nature and is simply devoid of purpose ...

These memos are absolutely, 100% lacking in anything related to collusion and defensible in a court of law ...

The memos are not even part of the collusion part of Special Counsel Mueller's probe. Mueller has a broad mandate that allows him to pursue various paths. One aspect of Mueller's probe is potential obstruction of justice; if these memos were to be relevant in any part of Mueller's probe it would be for his obstruction inquiry. You do realize Mueller's mandate isn't just "collusion"? I prefer not using that term as you can't charge anyone with 'collusion'. You can commit crimes while colluding depending on the circumstances.

The investigation isn't a strictly this or that kind of investigation due to the function of the Special Counsel and the mandate he was given.

Spoiler: Mandate

Russian interference is also an aspect of Mueller's probe as we saw with the 13 indicted Russian nationals and 3 Russian entities.
When you compare the Mueller probe to other large investigations such as the Watergate investigation, the Whitewater/Lewinsky special counsel probe or even a large congressional probe like the Benghazi investigations etc. it is clear that Mueller's probe is moving very fast and efficiently. Arguably more so than any of the aforementioned investigations.

Demanding an end to such a broad special counsel investigation after a relatively short time filled with dozens of indictments is ridiculous and shows a lack of historical knowledge of similar investigations throughout US political history.
President Nixon was never a 'target' of the Watergate investigation, would you say that it was a useless investigation that should've been ended asap?

 

[gry60]

Belgium

What are the odds that I InTheHallway opened the spoiler?

Items (ii) and (c) would make him tremble in his boots.

 

[Based Jesus]

Only 52% That's less than the amount who believe the story of Jesus word for word.

 

[RIP sleazyy]

Will they then retroactively release people from jail with marijuana charges and/or expunge old convictions?

Hoping so. I got friends that can't get work for nonviolent offenses. Dudes stuck in the cycle cuz of BS laws on flowers.

 

[stuntman mike]

Belgium

What are the odds that I InTheHallway opened the spoiler?

Items (ii) and (c) would make him tremble in his boots.

but basically dude said that he knows trump is corrupt but it's ok because other politicians do it too. the sole reason for the "witch hunt" is because people don't like trump.

Only 52% That's less than the amount who believe the story of Jesus word for word.

the climate change deniers kill me. don't they teach the scientific method in school? i think the only point of contention at this point should be how ****** are we on a scale from 90-100 cause we're way past 0-89.

 

[noskey]

1. How many people were surveyed?
2. Move all the deniers to the Florida coast and wait 15 years.

 

[gry60]

the climate change deniers kill me. don't they teach the scientific method in school? i think the only point of contention at this point should be how ****ed are we on a scale from 90-100 cause we're way past 0-89.

What the kids are told at home cancels out the education they may receive in school. Students will believe their family over their teachers because their trust in the former is higher than in the latter.

There was a philosophy article about the information bubbles and the crisis of truth the US has been going through. I'll try to find it and post it here.

 

[Belgium]

According to a national Gallup poll earlier last year, 24% of the US population "takes the bible literally, word for word". I really don't find that all that different than flat earthers. Taking the whole bible literally word for word is bat**** crazy.
It's trending downwards and at the end of the day it's just a poll but still. I'm going to assume that science has a hard time getting through to people with that level of creationist beliefs. Religion and science can coexist just fine but in those cases I just don't see it happening.
Especially not when it comes to controversial scientific topics such as climate change.

 

[Mark Antony]

on't they teach the scientific method in school?

Pet peeve of mine, i don't think they do, that's why you got all these folks out here ready to jump at any youtube video.

 

[Belgium]

Turns out Pruitt had already developed a habit of reassigning agents to be his bodyguards or drivers and costly travel spending back in Oklahoma prior to his EPA nomination. At the EPA he can do it on a much bigger scale and finally live the lavish luxury life on the taxpayer's dime that he had been chasing since his Oklahoma AG tenure.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/busi...ory.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.97d9fe93ac63
Pruitt reassigned lawmen as drivers, bodyguards in Oklahoma
As Oklahoma’s attorney general, Scott Pruitt assigned investigations agents from his office to be his driver and bodyguard, at times taking them on his frequent trips out of state to speak to conservative political organizations, state records show.

The newly obtained documents raise similar questions to those that have triggered investigations into Pruitt’s security and travel since becoming administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Pruitt was Oklahoma’s top prosecutor from 2011 to 2016, at a time in which he was raising his profile nationally as a conservative in favor of rolling back regulation and federal authority.

Pruitt traveled extensively as attorney general, taking at least 24 out-of-state trips in 2015 and 2016, including 11 to Washington, D.C., according to the records. Although some travel expenses were reimbursed by conservative think tanks where Pruitt spoke, records show no sign of reimbursement for several trips involving appearances before them.

The trips included a handful in which the only scheduled events were appearances at political gatherings and media interviews, such as a 2016 trip on April 4 and 5 to speak to a Columbia Law School branch of the Federalist Society, an influential legal group in conservative political circles. One of the state’s reassigned investigations agents traveled with him, as “all-day agent,” according to his official daily calendars, which the Associated Press obtained through open-records requests.

For a few out-of-state trips on his official daily calendar, the reasons, destinations, appointments and all other details were blacked out completely, with only the changing time zones and trip home from the airport signifying the travel.

Pruitt began using a full-time driver soon after becoming attorney general. He was chauffeured in a large black SUV from his home in Tulsa to the office in Oklahoma City, about 90 miles (145 kilometers) away.

Pruitt’s daily calendars show the driver — variously shown on the records as “driver” or “all-day agent” — was often an office investigator, a licensed law enforcement officer who typically investigates crimes for the agency.

“It appears he created his own security detail,” said Gary Jones, Oklahoma’s state auditor and a fellow Republican.

As EPA administrator, Pruitt has been under intense scrutiny since it was first revealed last month that he had stayed last year in a bargain-priced Capitol Hill condo tied to a fossil-fuels lobbyist. Multiple investigations have been launched by government watchdogs and congressional committees looking into luxury travel expenses, outsized security spending and massive raises awarded to political appointees.

Lincoln Ferguson, a former spokesman for the attorney general who now serves as a senior adviser to him at the EPA, said if Pruitt’s out-of-state travel was strictly for political purposes, it would have been paid for by campaign funds. But travel records show the trips were arranged through a state-contracted travel agency, and few show any reimbursement was made.

In Oklahoma, Pruitt routinely made the three-hour commute from his home in Tulsa to the state Capitol in Oklahoma City during the working day, according to the calendars.

The entry for Dec. 7, 2015, for example, shows the entry: “8:15 to 9:45, depart Tulsa for OKC” and “3:30-5, depart OKC for Tulsa.”

That was despite Pruitt expanding his office’s Tulsa branch during his time. The AP reported in December 2016 that the move to bigger, pricier offices in Tulsa were part of a 40 percent increase in his office’s expenses as attorney general. Pruitt also added nearly 60 employees to the attorney general’s office.

By contrast, Pruitt’s predecessor, Democrat Drew Edmondson, who held the attorney general post for 16 years, said he typically used a four-door sedan and drove himself to events.

Ferguson, the senior adviser to Pruitt, said “there was no wasted time” on Pruitt’s commutes between Tulsa and Oklahoma City.

“He was working, reviewing documents, on the phone,” Ferguson said.

Overall spending on travel by Pruitt’s office averaged about $270,000 a year in his last four years as Oklahoma’s attorney general, up 26 percent from his predecessor’s final year in office. The figures do not include a total for Pruitt’s trips alone. The attorney general’s office spent $201,000 on travel during his predecessor’s last year in the office.

He frequently traveled to Washington to speak to groups including the Federalist Society; the Club for Growth, a free-enterprise advocacy group; and an anti-abortion rally. He also made similar appearances elsewhere, such as one before the small-government FreedomWorks group in Cleveland on “Battling the Regulatory State.”

“If it’s not state-related, then the state should not be responsible for” the cost, said Jones, the state auditor. “You can’t use any public assets for personal or political reasons.”

Records show many of the trips occurred during the workweek, when Pruitt was drawing a state salary of $132,000. Oklahoma broadly bans first-class tickets for state employees. The travel records show only one first-class flight for Pruitt, with a scrawled note on it showing Pruitt’s campaign paid for it.

Edmondson, who is now running for governor, said his travel expenses as attorney general typically covered national and regional conventions of attorneys general.

“I think you’ll find that his out-of-state travel would far exceed any other attorney general” in Oklahoma, said former Gov. David Walters, a Democrat, who recalled Pruitt speaking before local clubs on topics such as the Obama administration, rather than crime or consumer fraud in Oklahoma.

Conservative groups hosting Pruitt appeared to reimburse most of Pruitt’s flights and some other direct state travel expenses after 2015, and some beforehand.

But on one trip in January 2016, Pruitt billed taxpayers more than $1,000 for a trip to Washington in which he held separate meetings with executives of three conservative think tanks: the APP Foundation, The Federalist Society and Club for Growth. There was no record of reimbursement for that trip. Three weeks later, Pruitt spent the weekend in California for a dinner and a speech to The Federalist Society, which reimbursed the state for his travel.